It is natural to respond to bright light by squinting your eyes slightly until they have adjusted to the bright light levels. However, if you experience pain when your eyes are exposed to bright light, you may be suffering from photophobia. Below is a guide to the possible causes of photophobia. In some cases, sudden photophobia could be a sign of a serious health condition.
Corneal abrasion
If you get a piece of dust or dirt trapped on the surface of your eye, it may result in a corneal abrasion. This is not a serious condition, and once you have rinsed your eye to remove the foreign body, the abrasion will usually heal itself. However, depending on the location and severity of the abrasion, it may cause you to experience photophobia during the healing process. If you have any concerns about debris which have damaged your eyes, you should book an appointment with an optometrist.
Viral and bacterial infections
If you've suffered from a bacterial infection such as meningitis or a viral infection such as encephalitis, this may cause your brain to swell. As the brain swells, it can place pressure on the eyes and the optic nerves, which can trigger photophobia. If you notice that you have a high temperature, nausea or a rash as well as sudden-onset photophobia, you should contact an emergency medical professional for further assessment and treatment. These conditions are typically treated using antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Inflammation of the eye
If you are run down or if illness or poor diet have compromised your immune system, you may experience inflammation of the eye. This inflammation can lead to the development of photophobia as the eye tries to repair itself. An optometrist or ophthalmologist will be able to assess your eyes and prescribe anti-inflammatory and antibiotic drugs to help to resolve the problem.
Brain haemorrhage
If a small blood vessel in your brain haemorrhages, it may not be easily detected, as you may not show any immediate symptoms. However, as blood builds up within your skull, it can suddenly trigger photophobia. You may also experience a headache. A build-up of blood on the brain could be highly dangerous, so you should seek medical assistance as soon as you can.
If you have any concerns about photophobia or the health of your eyes, you should book an appointment with an optometrist today for further help and advice.
Share21 August 2017
Thanks for visiting my health blog! My name's Caroline. A few years ago, I started to notice changes in my appearance. My hair was dull, my eyes were circled with dark rings, and my skin was looking like it used to when I was a teenager. When cosmetic treatments didn't fix things, I realised the problem wasn't on the outside of my body—it was on the inside! That's when I started researching how to keep myself healthy. To my surprise, improving my internal health really worked. A few years down the line, I feel and look better than ever, and I'm ready to share what I've learned with all of you.